Key takeaways

  • Lupron Depot is a prescription drug used to treat various conditions, including prostate cancer, uterine fibroids, and early onset puberty.
  • Common side effects of Lupron Depot include hot flashes, mood changes, headaches, decreased libido, and injection site reactions.
  • Serious side effects of Lupron Depot may include bone loss, cardiovascular issues, seizures, and high blood sugar.

Lupron Depot is used to treat:

The active ingredient in Lupron Depot is leuprolide acetate. The drug is given as an injection into a muscle by your doctor or another healthcare professional.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Lupron Depot can cause. To learn more about this drug, including its uses, dosage, and cost, see this Lupron Depot overview article.

Note: This article covers both forms of the drug: Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped (the version used to treat early onset puberty in children). In general, the term “Lupron Depot” refers to both versions of the drug unless otherwise noted.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about this topic, see this article comparing sex and gender.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during Lupron Depot treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

Mild side effects have been reported with Lupron Depot. These include:

  • injection site reactions
  • hot flashes or night sweats
  • headache
  • decreased libido
  • fatigue
  • bone, muscle, and joint pain
  • vaginal dryness
  • breast pain or swelling
  • nausea and vomiting
  • insomnia
  • testicular shrinkage in males*

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Lupron Depot may cause mild side effects other than those listed previously. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about this topic, see this article comparing sex and gender.

Serious side effects have been reported with Lupron Depot. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while using Lupron Depot, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect from Lupron Depot injections and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Lupron Depot can cause an allergic reaction. In particular, females with asthma, sinusitis, or allergies may experience asthma attacks triggered by an allergic reaction.

In addition, some people have reported rare instances of delayed, serious skin reactions called severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). Examples of these reactions include Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

With these skin reactions, you may develop blistering rashes with or without peeling. Contact your doctor or get emergency care if you experience a skin reaction, as these can be life threatening.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Lupron Depot treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Lupron Depot, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Learn more about some of the side effects Lupron Depot may cause.

Injection site reactions

Injection site reactions were a common side effect reported in studies of Lupron Depot. Injection site reactions may cause symptoms such as:

  • burning or stinging pain
  • itching
  • swelling
  • skin that’s red or another color, discolored, or bruised
  • abscess (pocket of infection)
  • warm to the touch
  • lump or sunken area of skin

What might help

To avoid injection site reactions with Lupron Depot, your doctor will choose a new site on the buttocks, outer thigh, or upper arm for injection each time. After receiving a dose, keep the area clean and dry for 2 to 3 days after injection, watching for drainage, worsening redness or discoloration, or pain.

If you have an injection site reaction after receiving Lupron Depot, consider the following over-the-counter or home remedy options to help relieve your symptoms:

  • Apply a cool compress to reduce swelling.
  • Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain.
  • Apply hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching.

Injection site reactions usually clear up in 1 to 2 days. But if your symptoms worsen or you develop a fever, talk with your doctor right away. They may suggest that you seek urgent medical care.

Bone loss

Bone loss was a common side effect reported in studies of Lupron Depot. To help reduce the risk of this side effect, treatment with Lupron Depot should not exceed 12 months for endometriosis or uterine fibroids. Bone loss may be permanent and may not cause symptoms until a bone fracture occurs.

Factors that can increase the risk of bone loss when using this drug include:

  • chronic use of drugs that can decrease bone density, such as corticosteroids or seizure medications
  • long-term alcohol use
  • tobacco use
  • family history of osteoporosis

What might help

If you’re concerned about bone loss during your Lupron Depot treatment, talk with your doctor. They may recommend adding oral norethindrone to your treatment plan. Norethindrone is a progestin hormone that may help reduce bone loss. However, taking norethindrone with Lupron Depot is not recommended if you’ve had blood clotting problems, stroke, liver problems, or breast cancer.

Your doctor may also recommend taking a vitamin D and calcium supplement and doing weight-bearing exercises to help maintain bone density.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Lupron Depot’s side effects.

Does Lupron Depot-Ped cause serious side effects in children?

It’s possible. More common serious side effects in children include:

  • mental health conditions or mood changes
  • seizures

Contact your child’s doctor right away if they develop new or worsening mental health conditions or mood changes during their Lupron Depot treatment.

Children who use Lupron Depot-Ped may experience seizures because of elevated pressure in the fluid surrounding the brain. Tell your child’s doctor if they have any of the following risk factors for seizures:

Symptoms of increased pressure in the brain fluid include:

If your child develops these symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Does Lupron Depot cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible, and long-term side effects can vary between males and females receiving the drug.

In studies of Lupron Depot, examples of long-term side effects reported in males include:

In studies, examples of long-term side effects reported in females include:

  • long-term bone loss and fractures
  • asthma attacks resulting in death (see the “Allergic reaction” section)

The risk of developing long-term side effects may vary depending on your prescribed dose of the drug or how long your treatment lasts. Also, combining Lupron Depot with certain other drugs may raise your risk for some long-term side effects.

Lupron Depot can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Lupron Depot is a good treatment option for you.

Before starting Lupron Depot treatment, discuss your health history with your doctor. Lupron Depot may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • long QT syndrome, congestive heart failure, or other heart problems
  • have had a stroke or heart attack before
  • undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
  • depression or other mental health conditions
  • diabetes
  • high cholesterol
  • osteoporosis or taking medications that cause bone loss, such as corticosteroids
  • have had a brain tumor
  • have had seizures before or are taking medications that can cause seizures, such as bupropion or SSRIs
  • history of asthma, sinusitis, and drug or environmental allergies
  • previous allergic reaction to Lupron Depot
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.